Elevator system.



s. WELLER.

ELEVATOR SYSTEM.

APwcmm:

-HLED IAN. i5. I912.

mamv 19%. 20,1911

&

1 M K H a 4 m r4 M & m, m b 10 H M L E, S. MILLER.

ELEVATOR SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 15. I912.

' Patented Feb. 20,1917.

6 SHEETQ-SHEET 2.

I; i L T" Y L A L r 5 m we r v. L W Q L j w L i Bo L i y I 1mm L I Q! ulu I e: a

' ll Q. Y L I H, ll I 'E. 8: mm, ELEVATOR SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15| 1912.

m1 GUM" Patented. Feb. 20,1911;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M V W A E. S. MILLER.

ELEVATOR SYETEM.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 15, 1912.

Patented Feb. 20,1917.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

E. s. MILLER. ELEVATOR SYSTEM;

. APPLICATION FlLED'lAN. 1.5, 19l2'. Patented Feb. 20, 1917' 6 SHEETS SHEET 5- O I W I A I I I 6 w tl'hll ll hilw EMMETT S. MILLER, 01? PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR SYSTEM? Application filed January 15, 1912.

5 runs, have invented new and useful. Improvements in Elevator Systems, oi which the following is a specification.

The object or my invention is, among other things,-

1st. To provide a simple and, efficient device for automatically locking the several elevator doors located at the several floors or landings of a building, both while the ele vator car is running and when at rest at an intermediate point between such doors or landings.

2nd. To provide a cally opening any one of the several" elevator doors located at the several floors or landings of a building the instant the elevator car stops opposite such floor, and for simultaneously locking the car at such point so that it canno tyhe started until the door is again lockedin its closed position.

3rd. To provide a device for manually producing the initial action by which the door operating mechanism is controlled for both opening and closing the door leading to the elevator car.

4th. To provide a device for automatically releasing the car operating. mechanism the instant the door leading to such car from any one of the fl'oor landings is closed. In

other words, more briefly put, the object of my invention is to provide means for preyenting anelevator door at any of the sev oral landings of a building, from being opened except when the elevator car is in [place opposite such door, and also to so look the oar-controlling lever that it is impos--" sible to start the car away from any one of the several landings of the building before I securely locking the door in its closed p0- sition at such landing, whereby the liability of a passenger being injured when attempting to pass to or from an elevator car is avoided, and the liability of accident from such cause is eliminated.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 represents an inside view of the upper portion of an elevator car located in front of one of the doors leading from the landing to the car, showing also the device for opening and closing the door, flocated Specification of Letters Patent.

device, for automati- Patented Feb. so, that.

Serial No. 671,194.

upon the top of such car. It will be understood that a similar door is located at e ch floor of a building which is passed by he car; that the door in Fig. 1 is shown locked in its closed position, while the lever by which the elevator is operated, is shown as disengaged irom its locking mechanism pre-.

paratory to starting the elevator either upwardly or downwardly.

Figs. 2 and 3, taken together, represent aplanvieiw of the door operating mechanism carried by the car.

vator car for engaging and moving a door located at any one of the several floor landings of a building.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, part in section, of the device shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a detail of the device for locking the car operating lever, while the door leadin to the car is in its open position.

like parts are identified by the same reference numerals throughout the several vlews.

The door actuating mechanism of my device is adapted to beioperated by compressed air, which air is compressed and stored ready for use by a stationary motor and compressor, preferably located near the elevator shaft. The air thus compressed, is led from the compressor to an air controlling valve 2, through a flexible duct 3, when its course is manually controlled at the will of the operator and led from such valve to the respective ends of the cylinder 4 through the ducts 5 and 6. 'Z is an operating lever provided with a handle 7 by which the action of the valve 2 is controlled. The operating lever 7 is pivotally supported from one side of the car8 by a supporting plate 9, screws 10 and a pivotal bolt 11, and said operating lever is provided with two rigidly affixed laterally projecting arms 12 and 13, which arms are adapted to be alternately moved upwardly and downwardly as the operating lever 7 is rocked on its suppolting pivot toward the right and left. Motion is communicated from tl arms 12 and 1.3 to the respective piston rods 14 and 15 of said air controlling valve, through the flexible members 16 and 17.

The valve 2 comprises a cylinder 1 8 and;

toward the left, motion being communicated from said lever to said piston through the arm 12, flexible member 16 and piston rod 14-, whereby the air which enters the. cylin der 18 through the duct 3, is permitted to pass therefrom through the duct into the cylinder 4 upon the left hand side of the piston 20, whereby the piston is moved to ward the right, and whereby motion is communicated v therefrom through the mecha nism hereinafter described, to the elevator door 23, when said door is moved from the open to the closed position.

It will nowbe understood that by a reverse movement of the lever 7, motion will be communicated ther'erlrom through the mechanism previously described, to said piston 19, whereby the pprt l'pading to the duct 6 will happened and the port leading to the duct 5 will be closed, when the air which is led to the cylinder 18 through the duct 3, will pass from said cylinder 18 to the cylinder 4 on the right hand side of the piston 20,

. when said piston 20 will be moved in the opposite direction, and said door 23 will be opened. It will be understood that when the piston 20 is moved toward the right by air pressure behind it, the air upon the right hand side of said piston exhausts through the duct 6 into the cylinder of the valve 2 upon the left hand side of the piston 19 in said valve, and that when said piston 20 is'moved in the opposite, direction, the air upon the left hand side of said piston 20 will exhaust through the duct 5 into said cylinder upon the-right hand side of said piston 19, ref-- operating, lever 24 is thus locked in a Vertical position, it will be impossible to start the car in. either direction. The lever 2% is adapted to be locked in its vertical position by the bracket 25, which is pivotally supported from the side 8 of the elevator car by the supporting trunnion 26 an shaft 27-, which trunnion and shaft operate in the apertured. lugs 28, 28, and said lugs 28 are rigidly connected with a supporting plate 29, while said plate 29 is secured to the side of the car by ,the screws 30. When the bracket 25 is inrthe position shown in Fig. l, the lever 24 is free to be inclined in either direction on its pivotal support. VVhen, however, the door 23' is being opened, motion is automatically communicated from the reciprocating carriage 31 to said bracket 25 through trunnionv 3G, carried by said" carriage,-bifurcated bracket 37, pivotal bolt 38, rod 39, pivotal bolt 40, arm 41, pivotal bolt 42, arm 43, pivotal bolt 44, rod 45, pivotal bolt 46, rack bar,,4c7 and pinion 48, whereby the lever 24: is locked in its central position as shown in Fig. 8, and it is obvious. that as the door 23 is brought to the extreme limit of its movement toward the left, and thereby closed and locked in its closed position, the bracket 25 is simultaneously turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, and thereby disengages 'thetperating lever 24, when the op erator is free to move said lever toward the right or left, and thereby cause the elevator to ascend or descend as circumstances may require.

It will be understood that the teeth of, the rack bar 47 engage the teeth of the pinion 48 upon the rear side of saidpiuion,

whereby as said rack bar isvmoved downwardly through the mechanism described the front of the bracket 25 will be moved,

upwardly to the position shown in Fig." 1, while by a reverse movement of said rack bar, said bracket '25 will be turned down so that the operating lever 24 will be re-- tained in place by and between the lugs 25 of said bracket as shoWn in Fig. 8.' When, however, the door 23 is moved in the opposite direction,-as hereinafter described, mo-

tion is communicated from the reciprocat-.

ing carriage 31 to said bracket through the reverse movement of said cooperating.

and 22, and the two series of pulleys 50. 50.

()neset of each series is revolubl connected with said pulley blocks by t .e'pivotalbolts 51 and the othcr set is revolubly (Sonuected to stationary brackets secured at op-.-,

positeaemls of rods (32, cables 52, 52, rccipj rocahng carriage 31, to which the free ends of the cables 52, 52 are attached, and block 36', which block 36 is slidably supported in said trunnion 36, and is adapted to be moved laterally or at right angles to the reciprocating carriage 31, as soon as the door remove is opened and remains in such position until to r 7, whereby ssidhlock 36 is caused to enter the space 53 between the stationary crochet 54-. and the inclineble hrecket 55, err as said cerrisge 31 is moved. tovverd. the riqht sziid block 36'is adopted. to engage were sold bracket 55 whereby said. bracket lb? oroiight at right angles to its supporting ii: s 56, carried by said door, letch Will ei'igaged from the catch 88, when said rid door will he moved by said block 36 he right with said carriage 31. The o is adapted to "be connected with the 5' through the plate 56 which plate is with apertures 57 for the receplieu of feel-clung bolts. It will he understood thol; the laterally moving block 36 is fgirhed forwardly, and normally retained betlvveen the brackets 54% and 55 by the recoil or the "irsl spring; Spring 58 surrounds and poorted froh'i the block 36 Withlh the trunnion and said spring is o hear at one end against the shouloi oi said block 36 and at its other end against the shoulders or of said. hollow iioo, "whereby said, block 36 is forced.

he recoil of said spring.

eferred to make several turns of fries the ends" attached to the block 31, e e 'lu l movement of the door 23 lively short operating cyl- 6 o iiposite arm iii) of sold hell orzult is moved resrwordly, whereby the iii 36 disengaged from said i: in and The Withdrawal of the Be is solely for the purpose of pro 1 who; any possibility oi its striklng the brackets or 55 oi the several elevator doors or any other obstructions, as the curugovcs up or down the shaft,

The cling block 36 is provided with. 5 r the recepljiou of the arm (id 2 m in engages therein as said block 36 ".l I 181 d rection. The hollow l @IfiVlllGLl. upon one side With for the reception or :1 lon'mu the or: oil of id hell crank lever.

-l l'mvo thus is) desmiibed that purl; oft the (i ire \-l\l til is used-filer automatically opeiim g and closing the elevator door, and for loosing the clevata'ir lever by which the movement of the clc'vetcr car is controlled it will, however he understood that to pre- 6 cor is again closed, reference being had 52 around the sets of. pulleys 50, v

31 is slidehly supported on vent accident, it becomes necessary to lock the several elevator doors, located at the sow erel landings of a building, in their closed I stant the door starts to open, as hereinafter described.

70 1s a latch which is carried hythe door 23, and the some is adapted. to engage at its protruding end in a catch 88 supported from the door frame 72. Motion is colnmunicated from. the bracket 55 to said latch 70 through the lugs 74, pivotal bolt 75, arm 76, pivotal bolt 77, bifurcated arm 78, pivolzsl bolt 79, arm 80, forming one of the members of the elbow crank lever 81, pivotal bolt 82, arm 83,v pivotal bolt 84, rod 85, end pivotal bolt 86. The latch 70 is connected at one end to the door 23 by the pivotel bolt 87, and said latch is yieldingly held. in position to outomatically engage the catch 88 by the spring 89, whereby, as the door is inoved to its closed position, said latch will engage said catch, one "hereby the door is securely locked in its closed position until said letch is again raised and disengaged from the, catch by the action of the door moving mechanism hereinbefore described.

The flexible members end. 17 are movahly supported at intermediate points be tween the lever 12 and the piston rods 14:: and 15, by the rollers 9O, 90, and 91, 91, wherebym reciprocating movement is communicatcd to said piston rods from the rocking movement of said lever;

Operation.

When it is desired to stop thecsr 23 at a landing the lover ting lever 24 is brought to a vertical or r f'll position as shown in Fig. 1, To open. the door the hendle 7 is turned to the left Whicli- 'cs'uses the piston 19 to move tothe right anduncover ire the port of duct 6, Compressed air is thus admitted to cylinder 4 back er piston 20 which is forced to the left cmisirlgthe block 31 to be moved to the right liythe cable 52 secured thereto. The initial mofvemeiit of the block 31 allows the block 36" to move out into" the path of the, brackets 54 and 55. rid;- the some time the trunnion 36 of the clock 31 rocks the bifurcated bracket 37 tfo the right and by means of rod 39, lever arms 41 and 43, rod 45, rack 47 and pinion 48 brings the lugs 25' of the bracket 25 into the path of the lever 24 thus locking it, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A slight further movement of the block 31 causes the block 36' to engage the bracket 55 and swing it toward the right as shown in Fig. 7, thereby raising the latch 70 by means of link 78, arms 80 and 83 and rod 85. The door 23 is now free to be opened and asthe block 31 continues to the right it moves the door with it by means of block 36 bearing against the bracket 55 secured to the top of the door.

To close the door again the handle 7 is turned to the right thus moving the piston 19 to the left and admitting compressed air, through duct 5, back of cylinder 20 forcing itto the right and causing block 31 to move tothe left against the stop 65. In theclosing movement the block 36' bears against the bracket 54 and releases the bracket 55 thereby allowing the latch 70 to .drop 1nto a position where it will engage the catch 88 when the door is closed. Just before the stop 65 is reached the trunnion 36 engages the bifurcated bracket 37 which by further movement of the block 31 to the left, is turned up, as shown in Fig. 1, thus releasing the lever 24. The final movement of block 31 withdraws the block 36 from the path of the bracket 54 and 55.

While the motor and air compressor which air is compressed for opening and closing the elevator door, are preferably located near any one of the several floors adjacent to the elevator shaft, said motor and compressor may, ifdesired, be carried by the elevator car, in which case the motive power may be communicated to the motor by an electric current through suitable conductors in the ordinary manne I Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In an elevator system of the class dcscribed the combination of an elevator shaft,

an elevator car suspended in said shaft, an elevator doorlocated at a landing of said shaft, means for automatically locking the elevator door in its closed position, air actuated means carried by the car, a latch opening member and a bracket carried by the door, a pin operable by said air actuated means adapted to engage the latch opening member to ,open the door and to engage the bracket to close the door, a stop and means engageable with said stop arranged to withdraw the pin from the, path of the bracket and the latch memh r.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature is the presence of two witnesses.

EMMETT S. MILLER. Witnesses: v

Doom R. CLARK, C. A. Hoununn. 

